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Crisis in the Middle East; At Least 80 Dead From Tsunami Off Indonesia's Java Island
Aired July 17, 2006 - 13:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get straight to the newsroom. Tony Harris working details on a developing story for us.
Hey, Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Kyra. The Red Cross reporting that the death toll from today's earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia is now 80. That's 80 people dead, five different areas along the coast of Indonesia, along the southwest coast of Java, reporting these fatalities. Most of the deaths from the beach area. The number is expected to rise, Kyra, as the search for victims intensifies.
Now the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there did not appear to be a widespread tsunami threat in the region, but still the latest reporting from the Red Cross is that the death toll from today's earthquake and tsunami is 80, and that number is expected to rise as the search intensifies. We will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest pictures and developments -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Tony, appreciate it.
HARRIS: Sure thing.
PHILLIPS: Well, no mercy on militants who attack Israel. Tough words from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Here's what we know about the Middle East crisis right now. Olmert says that his country's offensive will continue until its captured soldiers are freed, rocket attacks on Israelis stop, and the Lebanese army is deployed along the border. That could signal softening of Israel's position. Leaders had said the fighting wasn't stopped until Hezbollah was dismantled. Israel is bopping Lebanon for a sixth day now. Today's attacks targeting Beirut's port and Army barracks, and the city's southern suburbs.
Through it all, though, Hezbollah rockets keep falling on northern Israel. The U.S. State Department is coming to the help of Americans stranded in Lebanon now, and it's chartering planes and a cruise ship to get thousands of them out; 25,000 Americans are thought to be there, but many will likely choose to stay put.
President Bush had choice words about the Mideast crisis today in Russia. A microphone picked up comments meant for the British prime minister's ears only.
CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House with the details. I think everyone likes to see those raw moments from time to time, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They do. You know, and presidents are people. This sort of thing, though, is rare, but it does happen. And as you said, these words were not meant for general listening. But it -- you saw the president being forthright about some issues of contention at the G-8 summit. Now the leaders did, to give them credit, sign on to a statement where they did condemn -- blame Hamas and Hezbollah for the violence, for starting the violence, called on Israel to exercise utmost restraint. But the statement made no mention of Syria, no mention of Iran, who are both believed to be supporting Hezbollah.
And while the French say the document calls for a cease-fire, the U.S. has avoided using that word. The U.S. has also not signed on to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for international forces in Lebanon to keep the peace. So at final G-8 luncheon, President Bush did express some frustration in what was supposed to be a private conversation to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What about Kofi Annan? I don't like the sequence of it, his attitude is basically cease fire and everything else happens. You know what I'm saying?
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Yes. No, I think it's really difficult. You can't stop this unless you get the international presence agreed.
BUSH: Yes.
(INAUDIBLE)
BLAIR: You need that done quickly.
BUSH: She's going. I think Condi's going to go pretty soon.
BLAIR: Right. Well that's all that matters. That if you -- see it will take some time to get out of there.
BUSH: Yes.
BLAIR: But at least it gives people...
BUSH: ... It's a process, I agree. I told her your offer, too.
BLAIR: Well it's only -- or if she's going, or if she needs the ground prepared as it were. Obviously she goes out, she's got to succeed as it were, where as I can just go out and talk.
BUSH: You see the irony is that what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's over.
BLAIR: Cause I think this is all part of the same thing. What does he think? He thinks if Lebanon turns out fine, if he gets a solution in Israel and Palestine, Iraq goes in the right way, he's done it. That's what this whole thing's about, it's the same with Iran.
BUSH: I feel like telling Kofi to get on the phone with Assad and make something happen. We're not blaming Israel and we're not blaming the Lebanese government.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOCH: Now you'll notice that President Bush in those remarks though, they were difficult to hear, he does confirm something that was widely hinted at during the G8 summit, that he will be sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region to help diffuse tensions. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right, Kathleen Koch, we'll be talking a lot more about the president's meeting and of course what's going to happen since that conversation with Tony Blair.
Well last week oil prices had a violent reaction to the situation in the Middle East. Susan Lisovicz is live from the New York Stock Exchange with an oil check and an update on how those stocks are doing today. Hey, Susan.
(MARKET REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Stuck in Lebanon, thousands of American citizens looking for a way to get out. I'm going to talk with a mother here in Atlanta who is worried sick about her 17-year-old son in Beirut. We're going to get him on the phone, too, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Diplomacy amid the destruction in the U.N. Security Council has been meeting on the Mideast crisis. And a U.N. team is on the ground in Lebanon. Our Richard Roth has the latest now from U.N. headquarters in New York. Do you think it will be effective, Richard?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: I don't know. The United Nations Security Council has heard the appeal by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and British Prime Minister Blair for a new multilateral force to go into the area between Israel and Lebanon.
Of course there is a U.N. peacekeeping force of sorts that tends to be ignored by the rocketeers in that zone, U.N. force known UNIFEL. Annan and Blair meeting at the G8 Summit. Here at the United Nations, though, there is opposition. Some people think it is something like that is not needed, it is too early. U.S. ambassador John Bolton telling reporters what's Hezbollah going to do? Will they comply with this type of force?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Would such a force be empowered to deal with the real problem? The real problem is Hezbollah. Would such a force be empowered to disarm and demobilize Hezbollah armed components? Would it be empowered to deal with the countries like Syria and Iran that support Hezbollah? What exactly would be the extent of the mandate to deal with the military threat posed by Hezbollah?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Here at the U.N., the lone Arab representative on the security council, Qatar, said the security council should have acted two days ago and done something. But it is clear that the United States is not exactly in favor of this 15-nation body acting right now.
Ambassador Bolton saying Israel has a right to defend itself. The Lebanese foreign ministry has sent a representative here during this crisis and he appealed for council action in the light of what he said was aggressive, barbaric aggression by Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOUHAD MAHMOUD, LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY: I don't see how by destroying the whole country you can reign over one part of it. I mean this is their own way to go about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: There is a three-man U.N. delegation touring the Middle East, Kyra. They say they've made some progress, concrete proposals. They're going to shuttle, it seems, between Lebanon and Israel. They are due back here sometime maybe during the middle of the week. And until then, I don't think you're going to see major security council action. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Richard, was anything brought up about the Lebanese army? Did Mahmoud mention anything about its involvement? Alessio Vinci reporting that it had been attacked, but they did not retaliate.
ROTH: Well, he said that his army would not be able to be on the same competitive level as Israel. He continues to kind of deflect questions about getting control of Hezbollah. There was also some talk here, Kyra, about that open microphone you talked about with President Bush, putting some pressure on Kofi Annan. Maybe he should call Syria and Annan wants a cease fire. Here they're saying that Annan wants a cessation of hostilities, something quick to help on humanitarian purposes, political purposes, to get the violence down, and then work on the details. Otherwise they're not going to comment on what they say was off the record, off-camera, on-mic material from President Bush.
All right, Richard Roth from the U.N., appreciate it.
PHILLIPS: Well, where will they go and how will they get there? Questions phasing thousands of Americans in Lebanon now. Evacuation are under way, but there's a long way to go, literally and otherwise. We're going to tell you more when our breaking news coverage of the crisis in the Middle East continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: The trip of a lifetime, but enough is enough. A California man who flew to Beirut for a family reunion can for a moment only dream of reuniting with his wife and kids back home.
CNN's Kareen Wynter has their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LINDA ANTONIUS, FAMILY MEMBER STUCK IN BEIRUT: Hey, how are you?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the midst of crisis, Linda Antonius finds comfort in a cell phone and the soothing voice on the other end.
L. ANTONIUS: Thank you. And I love you very much.
TERRY ANTONIUS, STUCK IN BEIRUT: Love you, honey.
WYNTER: Her husband and soul mate of 15 years, Terry, one of thousands of Americans stranded in Lebanon, caught in the violent political conflict with Israel.
Terry and his sister flew from California to Beirut more than a week ago to visit relatives they haven't seen in decades. A family reunion months in the planning that's now turned into one unforgettable trip.
(on camera): How anxious are you to return home?
T. ANTONIUS: I couldn't even describe how anxious I am. It's just on my mind every minute.
This morning there was bombings that we hear -- you know, quite a few. Everybody's staying inside. So that's been, you know, the state.
You know, if there's a bomb that would happen to hit close by, the idea is to stay inside and put your head down. I mean, just like an earthquake drill back in California. You know, just stay inside and duck for cover.
WYNTER (voice over): Terry hopes to get home soon now that the U.S. military is planning to evacuate Americans.
T. ANTONIUS: I'm kind of shocked that it took that long for a planning team to arrive.
WYNTER: Until that happens...
(on camera): What are you looking forward to the most?
L. ANTONIUS: Being at the airport when he arrives.
WYNTER: And what are you going to say to him then?
L. ANTONIUS: I'm just going to hug him. I don't know if I'll have words.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to be OK. It's going to be OK.
WYNTER (voice over): Antonius says she'll continue leaning on close friends.
The Sunday ride to church was an emotional one. She has no doubt her husband will return safely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless you.
WYNTER: She believes his fate and those of other Americans overseas are in the hands of a higher power.
Kareen Wynter, CNN, Laguna Niguel, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And if you have family in Lebanon whom you want to register with the State Department, head to this Web site at lebanon.U.S. embassy.gov or you call 961-544-3537. For Americans living in Lebanon who need help getting our, you can call this number, 01-202-501-4444. Sorry, these are some other numbers here. If have you loved ones in Lebanon, you can call the 1-888-407-4747.
Well, the Holy Land in harm's way. Will the latest violence leave a permanent scar? We're going to talk with faith and values correspondent Delia Gallagher, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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